tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第21章
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adjusting themselves nicely to the various incidents of his life with which
they had been intimately connected。 His boyhood among the apes spread
itself in a slow panorama before him； and as it unfolded it induced within
him a mighty longing for the companionship of the shaggy； low…browed
brutes of his past。
He watched the blacks scatter their cook fire and depart； but though
the face of each of them had but recently been as familiar to him as his
own； they awakened within him no recollections whatsoever。
When they had gone； he descended from the tree and sought food。
Out upon the plain grazed numerous herds of wild ruminants。 Toward a
sleek； fat bunch of zebra he wormed his stealthy way。 No intricate
process of reasoning caused him to circle widely until he was down wind
from his preyhe acted instinctively。 He took advantage of every form
of cover as he crawled upon all fours and often flat upon his stomach
toward them。
A plump young mare and a fat stallion grazed nearest to him as he
neared the herd。 Again it was instinct which selected the former for his
meat。 A low bush grew but a few yards from the unsuspecting two。
The ape…man reached its shelter。 He gathered his spear firmly in his
grasp。 Cautiously he drew his feet beneath him。 In a single swift move
he rose and cast his heavy weapon at the mare's side。 Nor did he wait to
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note the effect of his assault； but leaped cat…like after his spear； his hunting
knife in his hand。
For an instant the two animals stood motionless。 The tearing of the
cruel barb into her side brought a sudden scream of pain and fright from
the mare； and then they both wheeled and broke for safety； but Tarzan of
the Apes； for a distance of a few yards； could equal the speed of even these；
and the first stride of the mare found her overhauled； with a savage beast
at her shoulder。 She turned； biting and kicking at her foe。 Her mate
hesitated for an instant； as though about to rush to her assistance； but a
backward glance revealed to him the flying heels of the balance of the
herd； and with a snort and a shake of his head he wheeled and dashed
away。
Clinging with one hand to the short mane of his quarry； Tarzan struck
again and again with his knife at the unprotected heart。 The result had；
from the first； been inevitable。 The mare fought bravely； but hopelessly；
and presently sank to the earth； her heart pierced。 The ape…man placed a
foot upon her carcass and raised his voice in the victory call of the
Mangani。 In the distance； Basuli halted as the faint notes of the hideous
scream broke upon his ears。
〃The great apes；〃 he said to his companion。 〃It has been long since I
have heard them in the country of the Waziri。 What could have brought
them back？〃
Tarzan grasped his kill and dragged it to the partial seclusion of the
bush which had hidden his own near approach； and there he squatted upon
it； cut a huge hunk of flesh from the loin and proceeded to satisfy his
hunger with the warm and dripping meat。
Attracted by the shrill screams of the mare； a pair of hyenas slunk
presently into view。 They trotted to a point a few yards from the gorging
ape…man； and halted。 Tarzan looked up； bared his fighting fangs and
growled。 The hyenas returned the compliment； and withdrew a couple of
paces。 They made no move to attack； but continued to sit at a respectful
distance until Tarzan had concluded his meal。 After the ape…man had cut
a few strips from the carcass to carry with him； he walked slowly off in the
direction of the river to quench his thirst。 His way lay directly toward the
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hyenas； nor did he alter his course because of them。
With all the lordly majesty of Numa； the lion； he strode straight toward
the growling beasts。 For a moment they held their ground； bristling and
defiant； but only for a moment； and then slunk away to one side while the
indifferent ape…man passed them on his lordly way。 A moment later they
were tearing at the remains of the zebra。
Back to the reeds went Tarzan； and through them toward the river。 A
herd of buffalo； startled by his approach； rose ready to charge or to fly。 A
great bull pawed the ground and bellowed as his bloodshot eyes
discovered the intruder； but the ape…man passed across their front as
though ignorant of their existence。 The bull's bellowing lessened to a low
rumbling； he turned and scraped a horde of flies from his side with his
muzzle； cast a final glance at the ape…man and resumed his feeding。 His
numerous family either followed his example or stood gazing after Tarzan
in mild…eyed curiosity； until the opposite reeds swallowed him from view。
At the river； Tarzan drank his fill and bathed。 During the heat of the
day he lay up under the shade of a tree near the ruins of his burned barns。
His eyes wandered out across the plain toward the forest； and a longing for
the pleasures of its mysterious depths possessed his thoughts for a
considerable time。 With the next sun he would cross the open and enter
the forest！ There was no hurrythere lay before him an endless vista of
tomorrows with naught to fill them but the satisfying of the appetites and
caprices of the moment。
The ape…man's mind was untroubled by regret for the past； or
aspiration for the future。 He could lie at full length along a swaying
branch； stretching his giant limbs； and luxuriating in the blessed peace of
utter thoughtlessness； without an apprehension or a worry to sap his
nervous energy and rob him of his peace of mind。 Recalling only dimly
any other existence； the ape…man was happy。 Lord Greystoke had ceased
to exist。
For several hours Tarzan lolled upon his swaying； leafy couch until
once again hunger and thirst suggested an excursion。 Stretching lazily he
dropped to the ground and moved slowly toward the river。 The game
trail down which he walked had become by ages of use a deep； narrow
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trench； its walls topped on either side by impenetrable thicket and dense…
growing trees closely interwoven with thick…stemmed creepers and lesser
vines inextricably matted into two solid ramparts of vegetation。 Tarzan
had almost reached the point where the trail debouched upon the open
river bottom when he saw a family of lions approaching along the path
from the direction of the river。 The ape…man counted seven a male and
two lionesses； full grown； and four young lions as large and q
